alternative to costly housing (My 24th Year.3gp)

[MrConversionVans]

Where exactly is "away". You pull up in any neighborhood in that rig and you are just asking for the Police to pay you a visit. FYI: You can get a portable toilet at an RV supply place for less than $100. If you don't have that you can use a bucket, but I would suggest investing in some quality trash bags to use as liners... makes clean up a whole lot easier.

[Johnnomads]

@AnthonyD28 You misunderstand, when i made that video, i was making $52,000 yr at a part-time job. With very low housing costs, my standard of living was better than most. About a year or two later i bought a newer van for cash.

[Johnnomads]

@NowLifeStarts, i know some ppl have 5 gallon buckets with toilet seat lids and plastic bags with kitty litter, but i wanted something more elegant than that. I have a Thedford chemical toilet, with a 6 gallon waste tank. It normally lasts me a week and has little odor except when extremely hot. I do use Thedford chemicals, and try not to let it get too full.

[AnthonyD28]

I understand being poor/broke...but with about 15$ you can buy spray paint and masking tape from home depot/walmart and paint that van .....make it look clean....if your living in a van, the cleaner it is,the better your emotional state of mind :)

[Torulv]

I dig your style. How do you come along with people you meet or already know?

[adrianskelton9]

I can see a lot more people doing this, the main obstacle for most people is ego and societies "norms" Its great to be able to afford a house but who wants to be a slave to banks and bonds their whole life?

[TheX4honda]

good job friend  god bless

[FreeBlago1]

I'm not going to ask you if it's "down by the river". Nope, I won't ask.

[101011b]

@Johnnomads, How do you deal with getting mail and paying for insurance/registration?

[2stage90]

Aint gonna lie, thought about doing this on a motorcycle though. Easyrider style

[wwood14]

Hi, do you carry auto insurance? Are there some states that you avoid ? What is your favorite state to camp/live?? I'd like t see more videos of how you manage in a van. thanks

[JawsJaws]

God bless him. Free to do as he wishes.

[newave123456]

Wow, that is awesome! 24 years!!!!! You are braver than most! Good on you!

[GLOCK22BYITCH]

simply pretend your in japan and consider your van a mansion. problems solved, your rich now, have fun.

[BeingNobody1956]

i tried it with a van that size, staying in town(a small town at that) but between work, the gym(for showers) and whatever place i parked it to sleep, i was going through about 60 a week in gas. couldnt afford it but saving to try it again with something smaller. just hope my social security checks keep coming

[dinavaillancourtlev]

i have a wife and 2 big dog and lived in a 15 foot bus for 2 year i now lived in a appartement and planing to live in a van again for the next 3 year here in calgary to work in the summer and go south backpacking in nicaragua and ecuador for the winter season will keep u posted soon ....i completely understand this guy tanks for sharing ..god bless you..for living the simple life

[mistyweezy]

you could move house anytime you want, if you hate your neighbor.

[brofun]

I've been living in an 8x20 tool trailer for the last four months on a job. I have electricity tho..from the job. It has taught me we don't need nearly what we think we do. There are things I would like to try..but being married hinders too much living like that.

[flybradfield85]

Living in a Van down by the River

[nycrtst33]

Beautifuuul brother God Bless You.wow 24th year awesome,the system keeps all the people as slaves for life but yet you broke that cycle 24 years ago.

[chewser117]

I could never live in a cargo van... but I could live in an RV. But even then I'm a car enthusiast so that will have to wait another 45 years when I retire.

[Rhinoch8]

Do you have something like a small rent, or sometimes you work for a day or two?

[SacredFireLodge]

You can be really free from alot of junk living like this...

[man4cannabis]

its very cool

[THEharperizer]

I agree with all you said. A house can be a prison, a national insurance number is a tag. I understand that for everyone to live in a society with increasing populous there must be a system to control and help man survive. But that system has become too intrusive, Governments are taking liberties with our liberty. I wish you well.

[Manidahoan]

Charlie send us some pictures of your new van--this old van couldn't pass a turtle

[crusty21]

If you didn't have so many Blood suckers in government and fascist neighbors living next to you, everybody would be living in a van. But then again this wouldn't be the debtor's penitentiary called America .

[sactowncr1minal]

dude i would so do this if i could. my lady would have no part in it though

[MrTruthtalking]

FREEDOM ! 

[HyperInflationNation]

Hey John, do you think it's better to have a van (more privacy) or a SUV (4-wheel drive capability - can go anywhere anytime)?

[DfektRiskProductions]

@HyperInflationNation deff privacy

[daPerik]

did you ever came across burglary or anything like it? I think's pretty awesome living like that, lot's of freedom, and no morgage or rent. All the best to you man!

[daneladydriver]

Great vid. I drive an 18wheeler and also live in it. I'm 56 and when and if I have to stop driving for a living I might want to get me a tiny motor home and stay on the road. Glad you're doing ok.

[MegaTriumph1]

Wow good Commets Thanks.

[bmadcatz]

think your government is rich minded wasted billions on war, for oil thats running out, but not spent a penny on on looking after your country

[tropicalduude]

right on dude, I totally agree

[WellConditionedChimp]

how about vehicle insurance? I've read that maine is among the cheapest for auto insurance. how could you claim residence in such a state but still be nomadic?

[Godzie1]

God Bless if this works for you. If I were a man I think it would be cool to live freely like that. As a woman though it would be dangerous? But the cost of living has cause people to take their life to the extreem & do things like this to make ends meet. Sad how life has become so unreasonably expensive? :(

[EasternMerchant]

portable garden

[Johnnomads]

Hi, just an update. The old van quit, so i paid cash for a newer hightop conversion van, that's in excellent condition.

Thanks for all the comments, Cheers

[HyperInflationNation]

@Johnnomads So this might sound dumb, but I'm interested in how you do this. How do you take showers and brush your teeth? How do you cook? Do you go to campgrounds? You've been doing this for a long time, so I know there's lots we can learn from you.

Thanks for sharing.

[hobowalker1]

@HyperInflationNation Well if you dont mind me responding to your comment (I have been living in a van for 3 years now) so i guess i know the ropes a bit. Showers, I take rag baths with a light soap or use anti bacterial handwipes, I can take real showers when I stay with a friend, family, or someone nice enought to let me use theres. Brushing teeth, some water from a water bottle and toothpaste is about it, then I spit in my porttapotti. You can go to campgrounds, but they're expensive. TBC....

[HyperInflationNation]

@hobowalker1 Thanks for all the info. I really appreciate it!

[hobowalker1]

@HyperInflationNation You're quite welcome! =) Living in a van is very cheap and a very cool and fun lifestyle. I love the feeling of being a nomadic type.

[hobowalker1]

@HyperInflationNation If im in an urban area I try to pick the stealthiest, most legal, SAFE spot I can find and camp for free, or you can stay on federal or BLM land for up to 14 days then you have to move 25 miles away then you can stay for another 14, you can do it indefinently if you were able to. My yearly routine is: Winter: Come to the city to work for 3 months, which is enough to sustain until the next winter. Summer, spring, and early fall: I stay in the mountains as much as possible,

[hobowalker1]

@HyperInflationNation rotate where i stay every 14 days on BLM land (I have 3 spots I stay at) and when i get to my spot that is closet to town I drive into town, fuel up, supply, and do whatever else I need to do. The biggest problems for me is the bathroom issue and laundry. Only one of my sights has a primitive bathroom (outhouse) so I dump my pot there, I only use my pot for fecal matter to save space inside it (5 gallon tank) and i urinate outside, I do laundry in town at a laundromat.

[verdemanthe1]

@hobowalker1 why not do laundry in the creek and make compost bins for your waste

[hobowalker1]

@verdemanthe1 That would work, but many vandwellers live more in the urban setting where stealth is #1 and doing laundry in any nonconformist way attracts unwanted attention. Its easier to use a laundry mat than deal with law enforcement or brown nosed people hassling you. Composting bins would be nice but where are you to put them when you are ready to pack up move on and unless you are growing a garden then whats the point of composting? I usually never have much trash anyways.

[verdemanthe1]

@hobowalker1 I mean for blm campers not in town,and composting will rendure your waste benign so why not compost(of course only if your on blm)

[hobowalker1]

@verdemanthe1 There's no reason why you can't right? Like I said I dont really have much trash. Maybe a few small produce bags a week, a liter pop bottle, and a few paper odds and ends I use to get an evening campfire going. I use the produce bags as a liner for my homemade compact toliet, I save the pop bottle for recycle. I just think that hauling a compost bin around with me would be unnecessary.

[verdemanthe1]

@hobowalker1 no I mean if you got a few campsites on blm it wouldnt be hard to set up a compost bin at each of them then you have a place to dump your honey pot it wouldnt be hard to camoflauge them either

[hobowalker1]

@verdemanthe1 True. Id say have at it my friend! Live free.

[verdemanthe1]

@hobowalker1 FINE!! I WILL!

[hobowalker1]

@verdemanthe1 Good! Haha Your camoflauge gave me an idea by the way. What if I camoflauge my whole van? Nobody will ever know im there! :P

[verdemanthe1]

@verdemanthe1 for sure! id go with woodland digital camoflauge

[NowLifeStarts]

@Johnnomads Any secrets for taking a dump in the van if you absolutely have to? Portable shitter or just a 5 gallon bucket? Serious question here.

[fiesta1100]

I have always thought that the average american lived a great life style,Cars,swimming pool,Large house,And every labour saving device known to man,Yet some of you seem to have nothing but hatred and mistrust of your government,You should try working and living in britain for a while,We never stop paying bills and at the end of the month there is hardly anything left to have a night out.

[Godzie1]

@fiesta1100 Living in America isn't much different...Many people work 2 jobs & still don't make ends meet? Face it America or Britain or anywhere in the world? If you don't have the money then you can't live. Period!

[1Rockbilly]

@Godzie1 not true! I have been homeless and broke and still made out just fine. It isn't my preference but it is just something you have to do to understand. The worst of it for me was the way people treated you when they found out you were homeless.

The great illusion is that if we did not have the "system" we would somehow die. It's BS. Don't be afraid it is fine to move among the people. Jesus did it!

[Godzie1]

@1Rockbilly Jesus turned water in to wine too. But I can't do that! But I still live among people & not on a stranded island!

[Godzie1]

@1Rockbilly Also I've been there done that & survived too.

But ended up sick because of a break down & high blood pressure from the stress, years ago. If you are use to a certain way of life it is almost impossible to change! I'm doing a lot better now & so has my income. Thank God!

[1Rockbilly]

@Godzie1 I am very glad to hear it Godzie. I wish you continued good fortune. But again I take exception to the impossibility of the situation. I sahre with you now a quote that has made the things I have been through in the past few years much easier to accept. UNhappiness is not caused by the way things ARE, but rather by the way YOU BELIEVE they should be. We are heading for some very hard times and this little saying may help you keep your sanity. I hope so. Blessings on your path.

[Godzie1]

@1Rockbilly Thank you & hope that you will come across good fortune! :)

[durgaaa]

@fiesta1100 Your's is the story of every average citizen in every country. Poverty has different levels. There are the working poor, the jobless poor, the homeless poor, the poor women living as slaves in their rich husbands' houses. The poor living in apartments watching their last savings disappear as they keep searching for and not finding jobs. Like Norway, Sweden and Denmark, Britain has high taxes due to social medicine and some other benefits, but life leaves you with little cash.

[1Rockbilly]

@fiesta1100 we are well on our way to the same end friend. I don't know how you guys live like you do over there but I guess we'll find out over the next year or so. Keep the faith!

[WizzleThump]

I was actually thinking about doing this, but where do you park at night?

[thedirtydeltas]

I did it for a year and yes it was free,but society deems it mad and force us to conform,fuck the capitalist system be free!

[1400deadwood]

A person's lifestyle is their business, not the govenrments. Unless the government can demonstrate an overriding need and can show proof that your lifestyle represents a threat to society or to anyone else, you should be free to do as you d*mn well please.

24 years on the road in your van? I wish you another 24 fulfilling years!

[Charles2337]

You should save up to get an old school bus.

[MrRadiantSynergy]

God bless you my friend

[VideoGuyNC]

People like this guy are actually fighting for our freedom. This is America where we are told as children that we are free only to grow up and find that we are not free at all. The Gov tells us what we can live in, where we can live in it, and what we can do with the place we live.

[mezeto]

Living in a house makes you an economic prisoner in a broke state.They can tax you ,sue you,make you pay permits,fees ,fines,insurances, licenses ,bonds,penalties.....the parasites are too long to list them all.All laws are made to where they can rob you easier and if you resist then you are a cheater.Going under the radar is the only way to be free.If you want anything you can rent it for a day or two and be cheaper than owning.Things own you,not the other way around.

[Dovenpeis]

@mezeto

Freedom, what a ridiculously delusive concept.

You can't eat freedom, but you can eat libertarians.

[mezeto]

Yes John,you are right.After 20 years being milked by the sistem I sold every thing and I boght gold and silver coins. I only have truck, tools and clothes on my back.I make $5k to $10k per month and I also employ 3 people and I pay them verry good under the table.I don't have a bank account.I just come back from vacation from Costa Rica.I live with my girlfriend's mom and I pay $200 per month.She likes washing my clothes and I help them with house maintenance. Life is good.

[EddVedderfan]

dude, your fucking awesome. keep on keeping on.

[EuroNoobz]

dude, no offence but it looks like you've lived for 24years in the same van..

[Boutdonow14]

Nice to hear that I'm not the only one. I'm 25 yrs. old, lived in my van for about 8 months now. I did it so I could afford to get myself and education and be free.

[alexandras83]

Screw the System!!! YOU ROCK MAN!!! KEEP IT UP!

I lived in my car in LA for over a year, it wasn't bad at all, i parked a half block off sunset in hollywood and worked out and showered at the 24Hour fitness on sunset, it was great, I saved a ton of money and had several thorough realizations about my own existence,

I only got busted once by the cops in burbank all they said was get this damn vehicle out of burbank, so i drove back into hollywood n slept, where the cops don't care

[Boutdonow14]

It's funny because I find that the same people that say "Why would you do that?" are the people that are limited to what they can do because of money. Less is more, because the things you have, you truly value.

[alexandras83]

exactly, people are just too afraid or egotistical to think living a certain way is lowering their humanity! they all end up in financial slavery, you are wise to have the insight you have, i'd say if it is safe go as long as you can or till your reach your goals

[waylan3]

you need a luggage rack it will free up alot of space inside bro

[KenMacMillan]

Is it down by the river?

[bulletman100]

good for you. in american you can choose to live in your van if you want. good for you.

[vutEwa]

right on man. you're a survivor of the nth degree. i respect that.

[kikayei]

This type of life is only for loners who doesn't have a family to take care of. I was considering doing something like this but it needs lots of planning. I'll have to buy a good van and build the interior that'll make comfort living. Other considerations are where will I shower or how will I deal with the changing seasons and so on. I'm sick of paying for someone elses mortgage and this van life does have a sense of freedom to it. But like I said, it requires careful planning.

[NinezeroPlayer]

how do u get jobs,make meals,take showers.....i think it safe to assume u don't have a family .Must be pretty lonely existence being a nomad.

[abseconPC]

lots of rich people live well below means

[beazly85]

holy crap u have john goodmans voice!!!!!

[ivan00000006]

Awesome video !! Great political statement.

[PhoenixAcres]

@TheXBze: Seriously, did you read what you wrote? Did you take 2 seconds to think it through? Google vandwellers or 'boondocking' and see how ingenious these people are. These vans have everything that an RV has. Heck, there was a 'Today' segment on a displaced corporate executive in his RV with his family. It's not as uncommon as you might think. And, I'm planning on selling my house and going on the road. And, I will WORK and SHOWER and BATH.

[dvdvanity]

I did it for over a year... it is a great way to find out what is important to yourself

[Bigtruck2007]

I bet your Van burns a lot of gas huh? But thats ok..At least you're free and can save money.

[MrJoseph1157]

I wish you the best,hope things keep working out for you. joe

[Carlsarv]

great attitude man!

[RamoneTalarico]

I admire you for not being a PAWN of the system, your right it is political, and in some Areas ILLEGAL? i thought we were FREE in this country to pursue life liberty and the pursuit of happiness...

Apparently thats a sham...a fucking lie!

[adrockisdead]

@RamoneTalarico

My sexy Talarico Ramond. I know all about freedom & disappoinments. The world is a lie. I was in the USMC so learning about candy coating is inherent.

[etherealheigh]

@RamoneTalarico

yes, except someone who actually pays taxes for that freedom may not wanted a rusted Econoline sitting in front of their house.........where they pay taxes.....

[serfofvamping]

@etherealheigh

i am sure you realize nobody pays taxes for freedom and your statement is nonsensical

[tabamoura]

write FREE CANDY on the side of it ....

[adrockisdead]

@tabamoura

You can move when ever it is convenient. Just let's say for example detectives keep asking you questions about some kids.

[josephdupont]

there will be a lot more van people.

good for you

[DeadlyButSilent]

I don't have a problem with van dwellers, but why does it need to be such an eyesore? Be a little considerate of others, please.

[TheXBze]

is this what you call alternative housing pff

yeah right nice way to live you cant even wash and have to shit in the woods!

not very smart

[duci71k]

You are soooo right about the bastards who want to keep tabs on you. Its a dammed good way to live and I take my hat off to you. I hope that you have a long long life on the road...you take care now man...

[DeuceSuave]

WAJAJAJAJJAJAJAJJ

[ZONEGIANTTROOPER]

nice van

[creten69]

at the very least,its a great way to see the us.You can park at wal mart,it legal to sleep there a couple nights and eat there and rent movies outa red box and buy a throw away cell.

[thomas242007]

Wouldnt it break down after awhile though?

[mookixox]

I drive a 2001 car (cost me 9 grand) that gives me problems, it's all about knowing how to roll up the sleeves and fix em!

[Christopher711]

John , you make an excellent point. Once you own ahouse you're locked in an d can't really move. Then , the politicians can make laws you don't like and pass tax hikes you don't really care for. afterall, what is someone in the m indset of living in a home realyy going to do? Move??? I doubt it.

[mookixox]

I agree with u, I live in a city that in the course of 1.5 years saw housing (and rental) prices increas nearly 300% this is MADNESS. Yes starting wages increased by a 1.50 but an extra 240 on my pay check wont help me buy a (2bedroom) 350k house!!!

[platinumtrojanhorse]

Legend - Rock on John!!

[smmeegal]

Good on you and nice van actually. I love the mo-pads in the comic 2000AD, they re-fuel enroute and are massive.

[RomanJockMCO]

why not just drive trucks for a living? almost the same thing and you do make a lot of money.

[mookixox]

That profession isnt for everyone, lots of truckers take drugs to make the deadlines and driving in occasional harsh weather conditions can make it not worth it in the long run.

[RomanJockMCO]

i never said it wasnt for everyone. i did it for 3.5 years and NEVER took drugs to make a deadline. as a matter of fact out of the 60+ students i went to school with, only 3 of us were left after a year. yeah its a tough profession but beats living out of van.

[mookixox]

Living in a van has its pros and cons just like driving a truck. Just because someone chooses to live in a van doesn't mean they arent working. I'm saving up good money living in a van and enjoy my freedom greatly. Now if I had a family that would be a diff story.

[RomanJockMCO]

i never said that someone who lives out of a van doesn't work. initially i just made the correlation that it's quite simmilar to trucking since you're living out of a vehicle. where or in what you want to live is your business. personally living out of a vehicle is not for me.

[consensi]

I am thinking about buying a used school bus

and removing the seats and putting in my

stuff. Problem is, where to bathe ?

Most truckstops charge to use showers and

toilets.

[creten69]

at the gym

[UcanbeGOD]

Look up Tumbleweed homes on google. There is a guy who bought one of these, its a 144 sq ft home! He writes a blog about his day to day life and he showers at the gym and since it is cheap living he eats out for most meals. He calls this "outsourcing" costs. Pretty clever.

[yesiamanalien]

@consensi: If you go that route, put in a shower a toilet. Plenty of room. I've seen some interesting ways of implementing hot showers without need of electricity or typical water heaters.

[alicatpurrrrrrrrrrr]

Hey john!! Love this video post!! Lori

[NoHo55]

God bless the freedom lovers. 12 month leases suck and studio apartments are hitting 900 month.

[zuluman]

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy John...I met you yesterday @ hains cigars...nice vdo than for the link... would like to have seen to inside i mean how it is arranged for living

[47xxyOz]

Nice way of living. Have you joined the Yahoo group for van dwellers?

[login762]

Hats off to you Johnnomads, wishing you continued Health and Happiness on the road. I'm sure others will follow in your tyre tracks ;-)

Cheers

cg

[Wooolfey]

And I thought I Was doing somthing by living in a camper for 2 1/2 years...